Posts tagged '*Video*'

A Fiddleheads Customer Compares Two 2015 Moneff Violins from Fiddleheads

Note: Justine purchased the second violin, the Moneff 2015-2.

0:00

Hi guys. Okay so as you know I got two Moneff violins [on trial] today. I'm so excited. I got to unwrap them and just ahhhh! So anyways I let them warm up for a bit.

0:23

I've been giving them a bit of a try already. I'll do some scales and stuff and you know tell me what you think which one you prefer: Violin number one or two.

0:40

So this will be violin number one. It's got really really pretty pegs and the scrollwork is very nicely done. We really really like that.

1:01

Some really nice flaming to the neck as well as you can see the backs are just beautiful. Very, very nice. The ribs, as well, you can see the the flaming on the ribs. Just really, just a gorgeous violin, just gorgeous.

1:20

I quite like the way they look so yeah so let's give her a go. This is violin number one.

Violin No 1

1:56

My intonation's a bit wonky so you'll have to forgive me, it's not the violin. Let's try in third position here.

2:36

I have to say they're really starting to open up nicely already I haven't even played them that long I've been playing them maybe each one about a half an hour. And they're really they're really starting to open up well already so I'm excited to hear how they're gonna sound in within the next couple of weeks.

Violin No 1 Demo

3:02

So we'll play maybe I've been learning the Blue River Waltz so I'll play a few little snippets from from that waltz.

4:22

My strings are already out of tune. The strings that are on here are Dominant strings. They're new and they're kind of metallic e sounding right now so every now and then I play notes and it can be kind of pop out at me so I don't know if it's the violin or third the string.

4:43

So again in the next couple of weeks I'll find out you know if that will go away or not.

Violin No 2 Demo

4:48

So anyway so that was violin number one and this is violin number two. Aagain another Moneff violin and the same kind of fittings and pegs.

5:13

Actually the tailpiece is a bit different. A little bit of a different tail piece than the other ones. I don't know maybe some of you folks have a better idea than I do as to what they're called.

[Note from Rhiannon: The first violin has a "Hill" style tailpiece, and the second has a "tulip" style tailpiece.]

5:30

But there they are again, the same nice flaming on the ribs as the other one. The back is a little different than the other one it's more a little more kind of marbling I don't know I don't know my wood that well.

5:47

So one thing I have noticed about the second violin is it's got a much I think a much bigger voice I don't know not sure if that will come out on the mic or not but we'll give it a go and let me know what you think.

6:11

Not sure even in tune anymore with these new strings.

7:05

Again pardon the wonky intonation

Conclusion

8:13

I'm just learning that tune so I've got a bunch of mistakes in there, sorry. Anyway I thought I'd play that tune because it was kind of nice to go up into third position there and play the E-string to kind of get an idea as to the sound.

8:30

I find violin number two maybe a little more resonant not quite sure tell me what you think but yeah definitely under my ear it sounds like it has a bigger voice. What else can I tell you about these violins, they're both very easy to play and to draw a nice sound.

8:56

It's a lot easier than my oldster that's still at the luthiers as we speak but there they are. I'm quite actually quite impressed with these so far so we'll see how it goes in the next couple weeks. Tell me what you think give me your opinions. I value what you guys have to say. Ok bye.

End Video

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[UPDATE: 2 years later, in response to a youtube comment asking her current impression]

I love it! I've received many a compliment on the violin and its sound!

It just gets better and better as time goes on and the more it gets played.

This violin is a keeper!

My daughter loves her new cardboard violin!!!

She is so happy to have one like her big brother and was quick to copy then join him in practice.

We use several coats of mod podge and gloss finish to make it shiny and the surface more kid proof, trimmed layers 6 & 7 to only a violin body to make it a bit more realistic, and gave her a chopstick for a bow.

Thank you for the amazing idea and free template.

I hope these pictures and the video link bring a smile to your face. Thanks again!

Thomasz Kowalski "Guarneri del Gesu" 2012

Cosmetics: lovely to look at, though appearance means little to me, with sound and structural integrity being most important. Apparently, however, appearance is important to many buyers.

Playability: certainly one of the easiest, smoothest-playing violin I have tried.

Sound, taking into account it's a new instrument: the Kowalski's fundamental sound is tightly-focused, sweet and ladylike, probably will blossom in that direction with more playing. I do like that sort of delicacy for certain material, though finger position and bows use can accomplish the same thing.

My sense is that it will never have a lot of "bottom end" to its sound, which is not necessarily a criticism, rather an observation.

Weights: Kowalski = 509 g, 909 = 500 g, 905 = 440 g. Slightly smaller than my other violins, but heavier.

Whether that ultimately will affect power/volume or is affecting the instrument's present sound, I don't know.

[Fiddleheads regrets to share that dear Robert passed away on March 10, 2017]

I began a serious evaluation of the Topa, hoping the sound was so beautiful I would require a fainting couch.

Wojciech Topa 2013

Weight: 477 g

Cosmetics: very nice, though not important to me. However, I do like the cat's eye on the tailpiece; it is kind of an exclamation point that says "finished."

Playability: excellent--fast, easy, even with Evah Pirazzi Strings (I note the E is a Gold Pirastro rather than the standard Evah E).

Sound: excellent right out of the box, with the promise of a powerful open sound as it is played more. I took the Topa to a local violinist (she has a master's degree in violin from a major university) and asked for her opinion on the instrument. She was very impressed with the overall sound. Both of us are impressed with the quality of sound in the higher positions, with no discernible deterioration as the player moves higher.

As I once wrote, "Love the music more than the applause (in all things)." Precision, beauty, elegance, and grace are what I seek, and those words are attached to all my music stands as reminders in case I stray.

[Fiddleheads regrets to share that dear Robert passed away on March 10, 2017]

My son's violin teacher, Oleg Rutkovsky, is an honors graduate from the Moscow Conservatory of Music [Moskovskaja Gosudarstvennaja Konservatorija]. He recently advised me that my son's progress has greatly surpassed the quality of the student violin that we purchased for him and we should try to secure a better quality violin.

After several conversations with Rhiannon over the phone I was confident that she was not just trying to sell me a violin. As the parent of a violin student I had many questions and Rhiannon patiently discussed in details all matters that I needed answers to. After discussing my son's level of progress and my budget, we decided on a Bulgarian workshop violin.

When we arrived for my son's violin lesson his teacher inspected the violin and began to play it. He played it for quite a while and finally announced,"This is a very good violin." He asked me what was the price and when I told him he said,"It is worth the money, buy it." I'd done some researching online and saw another shop was selling the same violin for $1800. [Fiddleheads' price was $1300].

The teacher's still talking about that violin a week later. When we took it to the lesson to show the teacher he started playing it and wouldn't put the violin down. My son has these big round doe eyes and you should have seen them when his teacher kept on playing the violin; he was worried he wouldn't get the violin back!

His teacher also said that "He would feel comfortable in referring his students to fiddleheads.ca for future violin purchases. So for him to like the violin and give it a compliment, that's a big deal. And for him to recommend his students to go to Fiddleheads, that's also a big deal.

My son loves his violin and he appreciates the improvement in the quality of sound in his playing.

PS: It was my pleasure to write this testimonial. These days having something good to say about a transaction is becomming a rare event. Fiddleheads is our official violin resource and we also consider you a friend.

[UPDATE: 6 months later] This violin really makes a huge difference to Reynaldo's playing. He hears himself better and it sounds so much better. Even the older songs sound far better on this violin than on his older violin.

My name is Adam LeBlanc, and I was the contestant awarded the (eco-friendly) Green Fiddle at the Green Festival.

I really like the violin, the colour is beautiful and it sounds wonderful when you plug it in and play it. I'm very satisfied with it.

It was a great honor to be able to have the violin and I will definitely be playing it quite a bit. Thank you for donating it and I will take wonderful care of it.

From the Green Festival here in NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada: Part of the festival is the FIDDLER's FRENZY on the Sunday 22nd August 2010. Lots of information on-line.

We wanted to present a violin to the winner and Fiddleheads sponsored the eco-friendly event.

In the video you can hear the winner, Adam LeBlanc, playing the Green Violin which he won and Fiddleheads donated.

He performed very well for the crowd. We think he has real talent and is young enough to take this violin a few places.

He also gave the crowd a song while he danced throughout while playing. Real nice kid and he has recently started doing the competition tour so we think he will get Fiddleheads some visibility with the inscription in the violin.

He has never owned an electric violin before so he was very excited. He also has a band, so one way or another we think we had a worthy winner that fully met Fiddleheads' requirements.

We hope we can look at doing something together again next year as Ivan Hicks is looking at helping out as we grow this small section of the festival. It could become the hallmark of the festival having a green violin to give away as top open prize.

Susanna had a wonderful Christmas practice last night on a farm (and with a wood stove). Two guitars, 2 violins, a piano and 3 voices, preparing for Sunday evening Christmas program.

I could hear the new violin for the first time in the band setting and it was beautiful. The other violinist immediately complimeted Susanna on the new instrument for its clear, full sound. Even when Susanna was standing with her back to me, I could hear the clean sound of her violin coming out above the other instruments.

We are all really happy with the new addition which you helped us with.

[UPDATE: 6 years later] Here's Susanna playing the 903.

See Full Playlist Here

The violin is as kick-ass as promised. I waxed poetical and posted purty pictures here. That first post was just my excitement bubbling over in the first two days.

You're right -- it's a beautiful instrument. I love the colour and the finish. I mean reeeally love it. It plays like a dream; so consistent and bright and responsive that it honestly had me playing better immediately.

Some of that is certainly due to new strings, but I already love how it plays and sounds, with that long sustain. Can't wait to get some more time on it (everyone's napping here right now).

And thanks so much for the wonderful case -- it's a lot nicer than what I was expecting, and much appreciated. Love the little goodies (pins and gifts) too. My girls were pleased with those.

[UPDATE] After our last lesson, our teacher, Liz, played my violin. She had admired its beauty before, but hadn't properly played it yet. Her partner, Ron, was there too, an old-school fiddler who knows hundreds (literally) of traditional tunes and plays them like a dream.

Liz loves the way it plays and thinks it was a terrific value (it also sounded GORGEOUS while she played).

Ron was very impressed with the tone and spent several minutes inspecting it afterwards.

Ron agreed that the craftsmanship appeared to be outstanding -- in fact, he speculated that it must have been manufactured with all the latest technology to be that good!

He doesn't really trust anything from China, but said he wouldn't care who had made it if it looked that good and sounded that great. Grudging respect, I'd say.

So yeah, it was was a full-on love in for the VN-100. I seriously open up the case throughout my work day just to gaze at it...

Read Jeremy's blog about the violin here

[Video: Jeremy, man with curly hair, playing his VN-100 purchased at Fiddleheads on a piece he composed for string quartet]

I'm so impressed by your web site -- it's packed with info and inspires trust. I've been digging into it occasionally over the past month.

The info in your email was a lot to digest at once, but it's great -- thanks for taking the time to cover all the bases. The numbers and advice are very helpful.

I asked for a recommendation, and you gave excellent advice. I generally hate making buying decisions, but your consulting through this process was wonderful.

And all through e-mail, which suits me fine (and with your excellent site as the backgrounder). I like buying things online. And even better if I can build up some trust with the person selling them. I know it's will be good violin for the money.

I will certainly let people know about my stellar experience.

[Video: Jeremy playing his VN-100 purchased at Fiddleheads on a piece he composed for violin duet]